First Blood

Chapter 2

Claudia was sitting in her class, staring nonchalantly at the board. Carving messages into the desk with a pocket knife was her friend Emma. As student's pens clicked, reminding her of dripping blood, Claudia's face grimaced.

She couldn't help but gaze at the board as slides came and went, depicting one of the most horrifying experiments ever carried out: The Russian Sleep Experiment. Most students were looking away in disgust, some even close to fainting.

Claudia, however, was mesmerized. Her eyes sparkled and stared at the graphic images of tortured people ripping out their own flesh. So mad, so sickening, that they were almost inhuman. Emma was unsure as to why her best friend had such an interest for the most vile things. It was astonishing.

Claudia knew that feeling of torture. Being put in the same undesirable situation so many times, that it grows on you. You don't want it to stop. At the beginning of the experiment, the men were terrified, begging to come out.

But as time went on, they got addicted to the gas that was keeping them awake. They didn't want out. Eventually, they could barely survive without it. That's what was so relatable to Claudia. At first, self harm seems terrible. And it is. But it's like a drug. Addictive. It becomes a normal part of your day, and soon enough you don't want to live without it. 

As she kept staring at the images, her heartbeat got faster. They flicked through quicker. Until it was a cluster of horror. Claudia's breathing quickened and her eyes went bloodshot. Soon, a classmate noticed.

"Uhhh.. Mr Waters? Is Claudia okay?"

The history teacher slowly approached her. With caution, he waved a hand in front of her face and asked if she was alright.

"Miss Turner, is everything okay? Do you need the nurse?" His voice was slow and comforting, but still all efforts were ignored as Claudia started hyperventilating.

"Someone get the school nurse!" A student shouted as they stood up.

Claudia suddenly took a deep breath and went catatonic. Her unblinking eyes still staring at the board. Assuming the presentation was frightening her, Mr Waters immediately darted over to the computer and closed it. Unexpectedly, she looked even more distressed now. Her eyes widened and made their way to her arm.

Claudia's right hand latched onto her other arm and her nails dug in. Not a scratch, a cut. Blood seeped out from under her skin as all anyone could do was stare in complete horror. With one swift movement, Claudia had ripped out a large patch of skin. The wound was deep. Blood was already dripping onto the floor. Only an animalistic creature could gain the courage and strength to do this.

Her head fell back with her mouth gaping open as she gasped deeply and loudly. It's almost as if it were pleasurable. That feeling of addictive satisfaction once again filled her flexing body. By then, the whole room was in shock. Most students had vomited and sprinted out of the door, some had even fainted. Emma was one of the brave few who could still bare to look. 

Claudia put her head back down again while hooking her bloody fingertips onto the edge of the wound, ready for another round. Mr Waters stepped in and stopped her from harming herself again as the school nurse had finally reached the classroom. Claudia was escorted out of the room, her best friend still with that look of pity and confusion on her face.

She looked up at the ceiling lights hurting her eyes as the nurse dragged her into her office. As she was laid down, the room faded away into darkness.